Varanasi new political hotspot this Lok Sabha elections

VARANASI: This Lok Sabha Election is special for Varanasi. It has, all of a sudden, become the political hotspot with the bigwigs contesting from the seat. It is, therefore, witnessing lot of footfalls due to political gatherings, rallies by different parties especially the vibrant Assi Crossing and Assi Ghat along the Ganga. The two have therefore become the epicenter for the district administration and the police.
The two spots area always abuzz with activity not only due to political debates but also due to various shows by news channels.
"All these developments at these points have made the area more vulnerable than Dashashwamedh Ghat," said DIG Varanasi range Sanjai Kakkad. He asked the circle officer Bhelupur to assess the situation immediately and demand to deploy additional force to maintain foolproof security at these sites. He said that the Assi Ghat needed security cover on the line of Dashashwamedh Ghat in view of unexpected crowd here.
The officials are hopeful that a new security plan for Assi Ghat and crossing would become effective in a day or two.
The name Varanasi has been derived from the names of the rivers - Varuna and Assi, due to which the area of Assi has its own historical and religious significance.
This ghat not only attracts pilgrims and tourists in a large number but is also frequently visited by locals in evening hours.
Few hundred yards away is Assi Crossing where gathering of intellectuals at tea and paan shops is a regular scene during evening hours. Discussion and debates on several issues take place here daily. With the announcement of parliamentary polls now politics has become the only topic being discussed here.
After Bharatiya Janata Party confirmed to field its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi from here the speculations about who would give tough contest to him remained a hot topic of discussion until Aam Adami Party's chief Arvind Kejriwal opened his card on Tuesday. The speculations have not ended so far as Congress is yet to field its candidate.
The panoramic view of Varanasi at Assi ghat and availability of huge area makes many news channels choose it as the location for creating their set for live or recorded political shows.
These shows not only pull huge crowd but also led to tension on many occasions as participants indulged in sloganeering. The same reason compelled one of the channels to wind up their programme within two minutes of its commencement on Saturday.
Though, all these events are being organised after seeking permission from district administration, the security arrangements could not be ensured for the events.
In view of the terrorist attacks which took place at Dashaswamedh Ghat in 2005 and 2010 the ghats along Ganga are considered as vulnerable. But the security plan is effective at Dashaswamedh and adjoining ghats only.
Looking at the intelligence inputs being received by police regarding possibility of terrorist activity during election period here, the attention of senior officials was drawn towards Assi.